Audit Finds Census Preparations Wasted Millions

TALLAHASSEE — In a more-celebratory mood than four years ago, Florida’s 30 Republican electors on Tuesday cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump. Unlike in 2020, when Democrat Joe Biden won the presidency, the GOP electors didn’t question the national results of this year’s election or express hope Trump could find a way to overturn results in other states. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power, one of the 30 electors, said this year’s election “went smooth,” while calling Tuesday’s vote a historic day putting the “47th president in office.” “There was a lot of frustration four years ago when we were not on the side of victory,” Power said.

Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers. Q: ​​I can’t believe you guys say run it back. We haven’t won a playoff game 20+ years and you want to run it back? — Scott Proe on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk Yes, me and David Furones say to run it back with general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel.

By DAVID BAUDER President-elect Donald Trump sued the Des Moines Register and its pollster for “brazen election interference” in publishing a survey the weekend before the election that showed Democrat Kamala Harris with a surprising lead of three percentage points in the state. Related Articles National Politics | Kamala Harris tells students to ‘stay in the fight’ after the election National Politics | Archivist says Equal Rights Amendment can’t be certified as Democrats push Biden to recognize it National Politics | Analysis: Trump signals foreign policy will run through him despite nominee noise National Politics | Biden calls for ban on congressional stock trading National Politics | Americans end 2024 with grim economic outlook, but Republicans are optimistic for 2025: poll The Register’s parent Gannett Co.

They’re tired of saying “Bring Them Home.” It’s been 14 months since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas kidnapped their family members — 14 months of agony, loneliness, anger and tears, with few glimmers of hope. On that fateful day, Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, beginning a war that continues today. Desperate to get the hostages freed, family members have been traveling around the world to plead their case.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved land deals that could help protect 86,819 acres across the state. The approvals included land purchases and acquiring conservation easements, which limit development on agricultural land. The deals total $318 million, with $8.39 million going for 2,483 acres in central Walton County, where a new state park is planned that will double as a buffer for Eglin Air Force Base. The deals include $111.24 million from the Florida Forever conservation program for seven parcels totaling 24,153 acres. Five of the Florida Forever deals involve the state buying land, and two establish conservation easements that allow landowners to continue agricultural uses in exchange for shielding the properties from development. At $32.65 million, the largest Florida Forever purchase is for 12,243 acres from Bear Creek Timber LLC in Bay County. The land is about six miles north of Tyndall Air Force Base. Related Articles Environment | Could the deal to give protected Florida forest land to a golf company be dead? Environment | The possible Donald Trump connection to the Florida state parks scandal Environment | More land for public parks in Palm Beach County: Officials move forward with plan DeSantis and the Cabinet also approved spending a total of $206.85 million, through the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, for 13 conservation easements covering 62,666 acres in 10 counties. Julie Morris, executive director of the Florida Conservation Group, said the easements provide protection for properties that “provide us greenspace, food security, wildlife corridors, clean air” and clean water. “We have a short window of time to do this, as development rapidly encroaches in rural areas.

A man was arrested Monday in connection with a stabbing and robbery of an Amazon driver whose truck had broken down in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood last week, police said. Curtis Gardner, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, is facing one count of attempted murder, one count of armed burglary and one count of carjacking with a weapon.